IN SCOTTIS FOOTSTEPS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 99, 29 December 1913, Page 7

IN SCOTTIS FOOTSTEPS.

3RITISH EXPEDITION TO THE ANTARCTIC. London, November 6. j "When you have got a stretch of and named after a British King, it ,'ould be rather a poor job if it was left for the explorers of othercountries co go there : and 'map it? out for "us." Thus' Mr J: "Foster 1 Sta'ckhbuse, a member of the Society of Friends, and nephew of he late Sir Jonathan'Hutchinson, the famous physician, in telling a Daily News representative oil' Saturday of his plans for exploring and surveying the coastline and'interior of King Edward-VH. Land, hi the Antarctic. Nobodr knaa-B the nature and extent of King Edward VII Land/ discovered' by Captain scott in 1902.' In undertaking the' Work of leading a.scientific expedition there Mi- Stackhouse, who has' had 'a' good deal of-experience in che Arctic, is fulfilling the -wish which : Captain Scott expressed to him before his fatal journey to the South' Pole. 1108. Miles of Coastline. Some details of Mr''S'tacklfouses's plans have been given already. The "extent of coastline lie expects to mark iv.it is 1100 miles at least. It may bo J a thousand miles more than that, "for | the land may jut out extensively in several directions. The expedition will have nothing to do with motors, ponies, or clogs"! "Jf you are going to have dogs," said the" explorer, "you want to know what sort of country you are going to work' on. To take dogs on a problematical chance is not worth the risk. They.'want a lot of attention and feeding," arid are always kicking up a racket." Mr Stackhouse is still undecided on the question of installing wireless apparatus. "We shall be about 2000 miles from the nearest station,"' lie said, "and I doubt whether tho installation of wireless would bo worth the p:\iooless consumption of coal which it would entail to keep it working. However, if anybody likes to give the £IOOO it would cost I'll put up wire-;' (less." . / -' : " Risky,, but important. The great importance of Mr. Stack--house's expedition, which proposes to. start next August, is emphasised by Sir Clements Markham in a- letter to The Daily News. "Mr Stackhouse's proposal," says this, distinguished authority,' "should; bos;'; cordially- welcomed by geographers. It>,entails great and serious risks, but, it is certainly feasible, and the grjeat..importance of the result justifies these risks. - >"'.-.•• "The discovery of the Edwardian coast and. its nature will far to complete; pur knowledge/ of the,Antarctic' lands as regards their^ general out-' lino, andi'much valuablev,information may be expected regarding, the geology of a vast.area. "I■ loqk upon the connection of Graham Land witfi King Edward ,-VII. Land as. one. of the great .remaining Polar, achievements, and, I believe it can only be in tho winy", proposed by-Mr;iStackhoirse.v , j An Appeal, for Antarctica, "The ,;.difficulties are they;- can 'lb'&> overcome. . .ship,., such; as the Discovery,.ubnitt ."• specially for ico navigation,, trained, abloj andl resolute ■ navigatorsvi"..';adid:. favourable seasons, there is the prds.pect of another great and impoortant addition to our knowledge of Antarctica, the name we give to our southern continental land. "Not only geographers, to whom the expedition appeals on its niorer sei<4i7 line-side, but all who have at heart the continuance of the best traditions of British discovery, will join in wishing all possible success to this enterprise. "I" hope, too," Sir Clements concludes, "they will not be backward in giving that financial, support. ..without which these expeditions, with all.•.their< 1 , possibilities of adding to our'/national,., glory, cannot set sail; I "lindergtand; that the headquarters of the;,new,[expedition are at Sardinia Housei,;jfvings:-, way,- London, W.C., and toi thaj ad-' dross contributions' and inquiries vmay, be sent." ' „, ~ •.;■ i